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The State Board of Supervisors today approved $484,310 in state spending to improve health outcomes for African-American babies.
The funding will come from the California Perinatal Equity Initiative to address poor health outcomes for Black mothers and infants, including low birth weight, preterm birth and infant and maternal deaths, due to bias and racism, particularly in health care settings.
In San Diego County, black infants are five times more likely to die before turning 1 than white infants. Black infants are also 50 percent more likely to be born prematurely.
In California, due to bias and racism, Black women are more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
The county’s Perinatal Equity Initiative, launched in 2018, is an expansion of the Black Infant Health Program aimed at providing culturally appropriate support services and resources to African-American families.
Funds from the Perinatal Equality Initiative have been used for fatherhood programs to help new and expectant dads support their partners, implicit bias training for hundreds of health professionals, and the Black Legacy Now awareness campaign.
A Community Advisory Board is also active, with 200 community members providing feedback and direction on program activities.
Visit www.blacklegacynowsd.com to find resources for current and prospective parents, get the facts, know your rights, and take action to advocate for Black women, babies, and families in San Diego.
